Carbon-conscious digital health: integrating environmental sustainability into drone-based ART delivery in Uganda

This poster explores the integration of environmental sustainability into digital health innovation through a carbon-footprint assessment of drone-based delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda. Nested within a cluster randomised controlled trial in the Kalangala District, the study compares drone delivery with conventional boat transport over a 24-month period. A life cycle assessment (LCA) framework, following ISO 14040/44 standards, was applied to capture direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and environmental trade-offs. Preliminary findings highlight that while drone deployment offers potential efficiency gains in health access, it also introduces new environmental considerations that must be addressed in future digital health systems. The poster positions sustainability as an essential component of digital health design, aligning technological innovation with climate responsibility and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).